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Enucleation of the eye

AI overview

Enucleation is the removal of the eye that leaves the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact.

Key points
  • Enucleation is a type of ocular surgery indicated for ocular tumors, severe trauma, and blind painful eyes
    source quote
    This type of ocular surgery is indicated for a number of ocular tumors , in eyes that have sustained severe trauma, and in eyes that are otherwise blind and painful.
  • There are three types of eye removal: evisceration, enucleation, and exenteration
    source quote
    There are three types of eye removal:
  • Self-enucleation (oedipism) is an extremely rare form of severe self-harm resulting from mental illnesses involving acute psychosis
    source quote
    Self-enucleation or auto-enucleation ( oedipism ) and other forms of serious self-inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm that usually results from mental illnesses involving acute psychosis .
  • The name comes from Oedipus of Greek mythology, who gouged out his own eyes
    source quote
    The name comes from Oedipus of Greek mythology, who gouged out his own eyes.
  • An intraocular tumor excision requires an enucleation, not an evisceration
    source quote
    An intraocular tumor excision requires an enucleation, not an evisceration.
Symptoms
  • Indicated for cancer of the eye such as retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma
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    Cancer of the eye, such as retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma
  • Indicated for end-stage glaucoma
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    End-stage glaucoma
  • Indicated for painful, blind eye
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    Painful, blind eye
  • Indicated for severe injury of the eye when the eye cannot be saved, such as after a globe rupture
    source quote
    Severe injury of the eye when the eye cannot be saved or attempts to save the eye have failed, such as after a globe rupture
  • Indicated for sympathetic ophthalmia to prevent travel to the other eye, which can cause blindness
    source quote
    In cases of sympathetic ophthalmia (inflammation of the eye) to prevent travel to the other eye, which, if untreated, can cause blindness
  • Indicated for constant infection in a blind or otherwise useless eye
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    Constant infection in a blind or otherwise useless eye
  • Indicated for ocular pythiosis and some fungal infections
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    Ocular pythiosis and some fungal infections
  • Indicated for phthisis bulbi
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    Phthisis bulbi
  • Indicated for congenital cystic eye
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    Congenital cystic eye
Treatment
  • An orbital implant is placed after removal of the eye to restore volume to the eye socket and enhance movement of an ocular prosthesis and eyelids
    source quote
    An orbital implant is placed after removal of the eye to restore volume to the eye socket and enhance movement or motility of an ocular prosthesis and eyelids.
  • Implants can be made of hydroxylapatite, metal alloy, acrylic, or glass
    source quote
    Implants can be made of many materials with the most common being hydroxylapatite , metal alloy, [ 8 ] acrylic, or glass.
  • Once conjunctiva have healed and post-operative swelling has subsided, an ocular prosthesis can be placed to provide the appearance of a natural eye
    source quote
    Later, once the conjunctiva have healed and post-operative swelling has subsided, an ocular prosthesis can be placed to provide the appearance of a natural eye.
  • The prosthesis is fabricated by an ocularist
    source quote
    The prosthesis is fabricated by an ocularist .
  • The implant and ocular prosthesis can be moved by intact extraocular muscles that will track or move simultaneously with the other eye
    source quote
    The implant, along with the attached, visible ocular prosthesis, can be moved by intact extraocular muscles that will track or move simultaneously with the other eye.
  • The two part system of orbital implant and ocular prosthesis provides a stable, well tolerated aesthetic restoration of the eye socket
    source quote
    The two part system of orbital implant and ocular prosthesis provides a stable, and well tolerated aesthetic restoration of the eye socket.
Red flags
  • Self-enucleation is an extremely rare form of severe self-harm that usually results from mental illnesses involving acute psychosis
    source quote
    Self-enucleation or auto-enucleation ( oedipism ) and other forms of serious self-inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm that usually results from mental illnesses involving acute psychosis .
Prognosis

Although vision is not restored by removal of the eye with placement of an orbital implant and ocular prosthesis, a natural appearance can result.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Enucleation of the eye”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Enucleation of the eye
An oculoplastic surgeon performing an enucleation of the eye.
ICD-9-CM16.4
MeSH

Enucleation is the removal of the eye that leaves the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact. This type of ocular surgery is indicated for a number of ocular tumors, in eyes that have sustained severe trauma, and in eyes that are otherwise blind and painful.[1]

Self-enucleation or auto-enucleation (oedipism) and other forms of serious self-inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm that usually results from mental illnesses involving acute psychosis.[2] The name comes from Oedipus of Greek mythology, who gouged out his own eyes.[3]

There are three types of eye removal:[4]

  • Evisceration – removal of the iris, lens, and internal eye contents, but with the sclera and attached extraocular muscles left behind
  • Enucleation of the eye – removal of the eyeball, but with the eyelids and adjacent structures of the eye socket remaining. An intraocular tumor excision requires an enucleation, not an evisceration.
  • Exenteration – removal of the contents of the eye socket, including the eyeball, fat, muscles, and other adjacent structures of the eye. The eyelids may also be removed in cases of cutaneous cancers and unrelenting infection. Exenteration is sometimes done together with maxillectomy (removal of the maxilla).

Removal of the eye by enucleation or evisceration can relieve pain and minimize further risk to life and well-being of an individual with the above noted conditions. In addition, procedures to remove the eye should address the resultant appearance of the orbit. Orbital implants and ocular prostheses are used by the surgeon to restore a more natural appearance.[5]

An orbital implant is placed after removal of the eye to restore volume to the eye socket and enhance movement or motility of an ocular prosthesis and eyelids.[5] The eyeball is a slightly elongated sphere with a diameter of approximately 24 millimetres.[6] To avoid a sunken appearance to the eye socket, an implant approximating this volume can be placed into the space of the removed eye, secured, and covered with Tenon's capsule and conjunctiva.[7] Implants can be made of many materials with the most common being hydroxylapatite, metal alloy,[8] acrylic, or glass.[9]

Later, once the conjunctiva have healed and post-operative swelling has subsided, an ocular prosthesis can be placed to provide the appearance of a natural eye.[5] The prosthesis is fabricated by an ocularist.[10] Its form is that of a cupped disc so that it can fit comfortably in the pocket behind the eyelids overlying the conjunctiva that covers the orbital implant.[10] The external portion of the ocular prosthesis is painted and finished to mimic a natural eye color, shape and luster.[11] It can be removed and cleaned periodically by the individual or a care giver.[12]

The two part system of orbital implant and ocular prosthesis provides a stable, and well tolerated aesthetic restoration of the eye socket.[8] Although vision is not restored by removal of the eye with placement of an orbital implant and ocular prosthesis, a natural appearance can result.[5] The implant, along with the attached, visible ocular prosthesis, can be moved by intact extraocular muscles that will track or move simultaneously with the other eye. The eyelids are able to move and blink over the prosthesis as well.[10]

  1. ↑ "Enucleation". Selected Anomalies and Diseases of the Eye. Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  2. ↑ Large, Matthew; Andrews, Doug; Babidge, Nick; Hume, Frank; Nielssen, Olav (1 January 2008). "Self-inflicted eye injuries in first-episode and previously treated psychosis". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 42 (3): 183–191. doi:10.1080/00048670701827259. hdl:1959.4/39234. PMID 18247192. S2CID 1605060.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Mary; Nathan, Malavika; Lee, Edward; Parsons, Brian; Gunasekera, Lal (2006). "Oedipism: Auto-enucleation in a schizophrenic patient" (PDF). Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 23 (4): 159–160. doi:10.1017/S0790966700009988. PMID 30290535. S2CID 52923082. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22.
  4. ↑ "Eye Conditions". Artificial Eye Specialists. Erickson Labs Northwest. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Alam, Mohammad Khursheed; Bin Jamayet, Nafij; Srithavaj, Theerathavaj (2013). "A Complete Procedure of Ocular Prosthesis: A Case Report". International Medical Journal. 20 (6): 729–730. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  6. ↑ Lemp, Michael A.; Snell, Richard S. (1998). Clinical Anatomy of the Eye. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Science, Inc. p. 136. ISBN 0-632-04344-X.
  7. ↑ De Potter, Patrick; Shields, Carol L.; Shields, Jerry A.; Singh, Arun D. (1994). "Problems with the hydroxyapatite orbital implant: experience with 250 consecutive cases" (PDF). British Journal of Ophthalmology. 78 (9): 702–706. doi:10.1136/bjo.78.9.702. PMC 504910. PMID 7947552. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  8. 1 2 Taylor, Thomas D. (2000). Clinical Maxillofacial Prosthetics. Carol Stream, Illinois: Quintessence Books. p. 265-276. ISBN 0-86715-391-1.
  9. ↑ Olver, Jane M; Sagoo, Mandeep S.; Viswanathan (2007). "UK national survey of enucleation, evisceration, and orbital implant trends". British Journal of Ophthalmology. 91 (5): 616–619. doi:10.1136/bjo.2006.103937. PMC 1954760. PMID 17151061.
  10. 1 2 3 Hughes, Michael O. (2007). "A Pictorial Anatomy of the Human Eye/Anophthalmic Socket: A Review for Ocularists" (PDF). Journal of Ophthalmic Prosthetics: 51-63. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑